Great quote from Boucher on Kuklas which could easily applied to pretty much the entire team in these early stages of the season:

“Sophomore psychology is thinking you’re good, that’s why you don’t perform. The problem is, we think we are what we were last year at the end of the year — we’re not. We’re not at all, we’re not the same team. It’s a different year, different situation. And we’ve got to grind it out every game. And even if we play at our best, and play desperate hockey and give everything we’ve got, we might lose. Why? Because the other team is desperate and wants to make the playoffs and needs to prove something.”

-Guy Boucher, head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning. More on this topic from Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times.

What is management seeing that we aren’t? I think there’s a lot of great ideas on this blog and a fair amount of agreement on many core details. And yet management fcuks up shit any of us can see blindfolded. Do we ever need coaching. JM and PG are either catering to people who can blackmail them or they’re trying to wreck the team on purpose so they can start from scratch. We don’t need a miracle, just a creative brain.

Another pathetic, lethargic display which happened way too often last year. Kinda resembles the way Martin coaches. Always said you need a coach that is intense back there and the players will follow through, but who in the hell knows for sure with this group. In no way am I panicking that they lost but I wish they wouldn’t lay down and die like they do. I wouldn’t mind so much losing games if they battled right till the end. What a mess…

Game was average, if you think that was a horrible game, you clearly forgot how horrible games look like.

This was a game where we were average vs a team that was hot.
Kippy WAS HOT, Tanguay was hot, Iggy is always on fire…

So for those who have a hard time seeing the silver thread:

-Price is our franchise player, we wished for one, hoped for one, got one, and there is NO single player in the league i would trade Price for, Crosby with JM would see his output crushed, look at Kovalchuk in NJ.

-Eller looked amazing, I dont think any of our guys looked so good in their 1st exhibition games…
Which means we got our 2nd proper centers.

-Emelin played better and better, I would take him over Spacho, Campoli anytime. So 1 upgrade on D. Webber looked good, he’s a Dman, let him play, he’s not as soft as people say, he fights for each puck much like Gorges

-Enqwist played well enough to let me think he will turn out to be the big 4th line C we need.

-Plexx and Cole had some great passing, makes you think with a proper winger they would have a line, but JM is a douchebag as usual

PUT DD with Cole and Plexx, AK Eller Palushaj, the rest unchanged.

AND for fucks sake, stop with Plexx on point, gsus fuck is that the dumbest shit ever

The brutal: JM horrible coaching where our PP is utter crap AND Gionta, Gionta has been abysmall, he is ruining any chance Gomez had of building some confidence.

….only one d-man is injured and he’s not very good to begin with. Unless you refer to Markov who may never return or play as he once did, so as far as I’m concerned the team needs to pretend he’s not the solution.

I pointed out that JM needs to strive for some consistency.
Yes, the injuries can disrupt the process, but JM has bounced Cole and AK all over the place. He needs to stick with some lines for a while.
Many are criticizing Cole for inconsistent play.
How can he be effective when he plays 12-15 mins/game, and not on the PP?
He may just be disenchanted with the coach.
And JM’s approach isn’t new. He did the same thing all of last year too.

3 games in and JM is already playing “la chaise musical” (sorry don’t know what it’s called in english).
Cole, well what he did in those 12-15 minutes was not so good, and he does not seem to be a big PP guy, at least that’s what his stats indicate. At least he is 100% in faceoffs :p

JM is giving Cole time to adjust to playing a new system with unfamiliar players. He is also not giving Cole the lion’s share of ice time so the pressure to perform is lessened a bit.
It will take Cole a bit of real game-time to instinctively know what to do within his role with the Habs.

Most coaches not seeing offense after 30 minutes resort to “line juggling.” Bowman always shortened his bench. I guess because it’s JM doing it, he is fair game for criticism.

Way too soon to panic. It was a disgusting game, with some things you don’t want to see, but … it’s early.

The Bad so far this Year:
1) JM continues to juggle like a clown on meth
2) This year’s Gomez = last year’s Gomez
3) Defense? What defense??
4) Cole looks pretty lost in JM’s “system”
5) PK is trying to be Markov with less than stellar results

The Good so far this year
1) Pleks has been great
2) PK will get better
3) … less than three years left on Gomez’s contract now, right?
4) JM won’t be back next year if this keeps up
Full Breezer 4 Life

I don’t know about that.. I watched Koivu play too, and he had more than a couple games where he took bone headed penalties or didn’t show up giving 100%. And really – Turgeon & Damphousse didn’t inspire or put much of a stamp on the team. I don’t think Gio is any better or worse than they were.

I think Gionta has more skill that Muller had. Muller was a plugger whose numbers were inflated due to the era in which he played. That’s not a knock – he was a beauty and I would love to have him as my captain again. But Gionta has more talent.

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Hmm, Muller was talented enough to be the 2nd pick in his draft year … and he probably would’ve been first in a normal draft year.

He played in high-scoring era, true, but relative to the rest of the players, he was still solidly in the upper tier of scorers.

Gionta is probably a better pure goal-scorer – I mean that’s what I’ve heard, not seen per se – but I wouldn’t say he’s more talented in general than Muller. Muller had lots of skill, it just wasn’t always obvious when he was breaking through walls while the CH on his sweater turned into a big red S.

The sooner we get rid of JM, the better for the team … If finishing at the bottom of the conference is what it takes to make this happen then I am all for it. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks and at this point we can’t expect JM to make any major changes to his style.

The problem with coaching the Canadiens is that coaching positions are often awarded more based on friendship or language rather than skill … Anybody remember how Gainey fired Claude Julien to make room for his friend Carbo even though Julien’s first year as a coach was rather decent and we made the play-offs?

Well, we know what happened to Carbo’s and to Julien’s careers since then.

Agreed on Julien. Lucky his team got hot and Thomas had a supernatural season, because he was this close to getting fired last year. All he does is waddle, frown, throw down his arms and yell FFS, that seems to be his technique.

Not excusing JM. He’s the definition of mediocrity, which is how his teams play.

Being named head coach of that dysfunctional Habs team was a tough for a rookie like Carbo. I think he had brilliant ideas, and that one great season showed that. Unfortunately, he didn’t know how to deal with the media or his players. Hard to imagine he won’t get another chance, and be wiser when he does. He’s a great hockey mind and will be a good coach again.

That was a frustrating game to watch, maybe just as frustrating as the game vs. Toronto. We were snake-bitten on our closest chances->cross bar, puck through the crease and grazing the side of the net. The first 5 minutes of the game were exactly what I was expecting of the Habs. Playing aggressive, making chances and using our skill to make space for ourselves…then it stopped. Bad penalties, poor defensive zone coverage on the PK exploited Price and they were all of a sudden up 2-1. The d-zone breakdown and its 3-1. Habs looked sapped. Just couldn;t bury our chances…and we had chances…PP sucked! Do we ever need Markov! Cammy woulda helped too…Eller and patches were our best forwards, Kush was okay for 30 min. Cole, Gionta and Gomez must step up! If I were JM, these are the lines I’d run for Sat.

I have no problem with Gomez and Moen playing less minutes, but I do think Gionta can contribute as he proved last year when he wasn’t with Gomez. Moen belongs on the 4th line, put MaxPac back with Gio and Gomez. Cammalleri (when healthy) with Cole and Pleks and AK with Eller and DD. Most everyone can see that those lines make the most sense it will take this coach half a year to figure it out

I guess every valid fan of the Habs have had their say as to last night’s fiasco.
Well, I know every one deems themselves manager materiel..?
I don’t go that far but coaching is an issue here,
You keep doin whatcher doin, you keep getting whatcher gettin…losses.
JM has the personality of a wet blanket, this isn’t cool, it is a sense of superiority that pees off players and fans.
There is no enthusiams regardless of the score demonstrated on the bench..(remember Kirk, remember Pat Burns)..Juggling lines and D like he does leaves everyone wondering what is his idea…
His system(?) did not work in Ottawa, neither did it in Fla. and now we are blessed with it in Montreal..why???
Get a coach with cojones and personality so the millionaires get their pay for working!!
Price was not his steller self but neither was the D..
Watch out Saturday when Colorado comes in like a scoring machine…
IMHO, this team, if it doesn’t get up for games (homeopener?) is surely going to struggles to get into the playoffs!

Ever notice how the Quebecers always come back to haunt the Habs?
And worse, are those who’ve played for the team before.
Tanguay didn’t impress me at all when he played here, but man is he dangerous with Iginla against us…. every time.

we’ve completed approximately 4% of the season thus far, so i agree with those that think it’s too early to panic.

i do think a lot of credit for last night’s loss has to go to the flames. talk about a team that was desperate for a good outing. they got their first win of the season last night, and even though they scored 4 goals, they still have an overall -2 in terms of goals scored to allowed for the year (9 to 11 in 3 games). kipper finally showed up, and the flames themselves were hungrier than the habs last night. microcosm of that fact: down 2-1 in the second, the habs were struggling to get the puck out of their zone. cole eventually lugged it out past the red line, but made a weak backhand attempt to the puck deep into the flames zone. flames reenters the habs zone. the puck came back to cole, who had been on the ice for a while, but he couldn’t get it out of the zone. he even fell as he was trying to muscle the flames defender off the puck. the flames scored as a result of that turnover at the blue line.

i didn’t see the third, so i can’t comment as to how the flames kept the habs down. looks like the habs had shots, so i suspect the flames just surrounded kipper and cleared rebounds?

the flames were prepared and desperate. the habs were coming off a high scoring win in winnipeg. they lacked the urgency that i think is crucial to competition. a lot of that is on the coach, but the players are just as responsible.

hope they rebound and come out against the lanche with more fire in the belly.

The veteran “leadership” core should take some blame for last night, Eller on his first game back from injury looked better than veterans of many seasons, and that’s encouraging as hopefully he moves up in the roster.

i think eller will start at the center position next game. on which line it’s hard to tell. i’d like to see eller play with someone who can finish. he and AK had a little something last year, so if he’s on eller’s wing i can live with that. at the same time i think AK, at least while cammy’s out, should be playing with cole and plek.

Any which way JM formats his lines, he needs to establish some consistency. Put them together, and let them play for a while.
How would you perform in a work environment where you’re constantly changing positions?

For sure, but with injuries changing lines is bound to be happen. Have to experiment. And the work hasn’t changed, just who you’re doing it with.

The kid you call up is a scorer. Why put him on the fourth line? Obviously don’t throw him on the top line, but spread things out a bit so he at least has a chance. Then the ball is in his court. Very hard to blame Palushaj for anything when he’s playing 7:30 on a line with Engqvist.

I did, Gill looked bad alot, but I guess his wife having a kid recently can do that.
Subban was all over the place, and should have kept it simple.
Diaz and Emelin are still adjusting, and I saw the Emelin was sometimes out of synch, don’t think he can communicate properly still.
Weber looked fine to me, and I would not say Diaz or Emelin made any monumental mistake.
If you saw them, please point them out to me, I’ll gladly change my opinion, and anything that helps me better understand hockey is always welcomed.

I actually thought Yemelin looked fine. PK was awful, but he’ll be better. Diaz started fighting the puck in the second, but I wouldn’t base an opinion of him on one game, that was a home opener. Isn’t there rampant criticizing of JM not giving young players a chance to develop? Three games into a rookie season while playing on a different sized rink in front of 22 thousand rabid fans…I wouldn’t throw him under the bus yet.

And Weber, well…yeah…scores the odd big goal though! Sort of like MAB, but less extremes at both ends.

Yes I’ll agree that the majority of the blame falls on Subban and Gill but I counted numerous times when Diaz and Webber and other were out battled for the puck and it could have been 7-1 flames if it were not for Price.

And like Boone said, if it were Boston, Washington or Pittsburgh they would have eaten that defense alive.

No but 2 of them could be fine, and Emelin can still turn out to be a great asset, he needs to play though, and JM needs to let him make mistakes…
Spacek I want gone from the ice, and in charge of the “nos Canadiens” videos.

Signing Markov over Wizniewski was this year’s undoing. The lineup is T-H-I-N with Wiz and Hammer gone, Cammalleri, White, Markov out and Eller and MaxPax only rounding into form gradually and Cole being underused…and Gomez still dogging…ouch. PK and Gill don’t look great, d is looking *very* vulnerable and the team still needs some beef fer crissakes. Gio looked like Koivu at his worst, leading the team to defeat with stupid chippy penalties, a crying shame. And yes the Flames ate them for breakfast. Totally outplayed the diminished lineup. And why is Gainey still here???
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What does it say on Bob Gainey’s office door?
“Larry Robinson not welcome.”

A patient and safe approach has gotten the Habs to where they are today, a team that isn’t elite but if the bounces go our way we can make some noise. No knee jerk reaction trades and a decent job of bringing our younger players along.

Compared to the Rejan Houle and Andre Savard days this team is a large improvement. I’m cool with that.

But I think it is time to shake this team up and change the complexion. I know it’s only three games into the season but I thought it should have happened over the summer!

The defense is just feeble. Gauthier for whatever reason, played it safe and signed Hall Gill, while guys better guys like Robyn Regher and few others moved to different teams. He also rolled the dice on Andrei Markov and let James Wisniewski walk.

I don’t know about you but I’d be feeling pretty happy with Subban, Wisniewski, Gorges and Regher as our top for on D as apposed to what we have now.

I think the core of the time team is pretty decent but without a doubt but there’s no denying it anymore, this team needs a few physical and well-rounded players on both offense and defense to take us to the next level.

It might take a blockbuster trade involving a 1st rounder and guys like Desharnais and Kostitsyn to get it done. Surely there will be a team out that that will trade grit for a bit more offense.

I usually see the glass as half full, but the team the Habs have put on the ice this season doesn’t inspire my confidence at all. This is what I took away from the first three games:

1. Subban’s game has regressed. He’s trying to do too much. He needs to keep it simple and play a less individualistic, controlled game.
2. Cole is an unmitigated disaster. His defense stinks; he couldn’t receive a pass if his life depended on it; and he has zero chemistry with Pleks (they are both puck possession players). The Habs overpaid dearly for this guy. I fear this is looking a lot like Gomez Part II?
3. Negligible contribution from an experienced core that includes Cole, Gionta, Gomez, Gill and Darche.
4. Zero overall team effort in sharp contrast to early last season.
5. Zero grit, despite the fact the team is bigger than last year (one of the reasons Calgary owns the Habs).
6. Soft, small, green D, prone to mistakes and turnovers.

For the first time in years, I can honestly say that I don’t see the Habs making the playoffs this year. The competition has improved. The Habs haven’t.

I’m at a loss this morning.
I’m sure what has to be said was said this morning by all HIO knowledgeable posters.
My analogy?
JM is nothing but a juggler. PG decided not to re-sign either Hammer, or make a respectable (as opposed to a supposed qualifying offer) to the Wiz, and now our poor, whittled-down defence looks awfully small.
Poor Gomez last night…I watched him take off with the puck like a bat-out-of-hell, only to get his pocket picked clean.
Gionta, well his stick tried to make up for his lack of size.
Pleks played far too much in 4 on 5 in the first period…not a good long-term situation, if they can’t be more disciplined.
AK looked like he actually cared last night, except for both instances where Eller (the Habs best player on the ice IMO) dropped two beautiful passed in front of an open net with….nobody there.
Don’t these guys talk? Diaz got bounced around, Emelin got bounced around, and DD got trampled on.
They crash Price’s net, and no one steps up.
Subban was all over the place, and Gill was wearing his old cement boots.
No cohesion, no communication, no form or positioning.
This team is built for speed, and JM wants them to act like the Rock of Gibraltar.
I’m at a loss. I think Kirk Muller was the motivating influence, and I don’t see it improving.
I could be wrong…Look at last year. They had two teams on the ice at different times in a game, or altogether in different games.
Team A and Team B. Game one and three were Team B, and Team A showed up for the Jets in Winnipeg.
If they don’t get Team A primed and rolling, it’s gonna be a long season.
Maybe Tampa will straight trade us JM for Boucher.

I read the posts on here and have been doing it for several years now. When the Habs win I come on for the enjoyment of the post game and when they lose I come on for the need to hear what some grounded poster say but I read nost posters. I enjoy Timos best and think he has a great sense of humor and very consistent.

This is my 3-4 post probably. That being said I also have been a Habs fan for over 50 years….that will never change. Some things I noticed are from today are :

PK Subban is over- rated at this early juncture of his career. He has flashes of brilliance which feeds him to be even more of a puck carrier. Many times last year I watched his forwards as they waited at the other teams blueline for him to feed north of the play only to watch him circle / zigzag over the ice looking for a place to carry over the line. Beleive me from experience hogging the puck is a disasterous trait to team play. He is leading the team in serious giveaways and has a – 2 rating along with Gill. He also was a minus – 8 last year after the season. Don’t misunderstand me I think the guy is super talented but not as all rounded as he must surely be in a few years.

JM’s system is designed to prevent goals and if he had more talent to score he would open the system up some I am certain. He gets unfair critism when they lose and no credit when they win. It can’t be both. He’s a coach that was picked by the management and not by the fans. He will probably do his term out and then who knows. In the meantime live with it. It was JM’s system 2 years ago that got us where we were all in a frenzy over the team…positively I mean. It was JM’s system that got us close last year to beating a good and physically intimidating Boston team backstopped by perhaps as good a goal tending perfomance as we wsill ever see again I thought we had a great year last year. Remember we outplayed them for the most part in that round. They didn’t intimidate us a bit.

Price is not being crashed all that much….I have a feeling he isn’t all that easy to push around and there are people pushing back if you watch. Emelin did try that last night a couple of times. Georges always pushes back.Gill does also. No they don’t cross check people in the head to clear them but they do get the point across.

Kirk Muller wasn’t God….why would he have so much influence…JM is head coach. Probably has a say in how Muller puts together plans.

The game in Winipeg was really close and if not for Price it easily could have gone either way. That game was 2 – 1 in the thrid period. Montreal didn’t paste them as was written…they clicked on timely goals in the third. Montreal or any other team doesn’t have the ability to switch from A to B talent…it’s a system against a system and then adjustments after observations.

Wiz was as bad as many of the defence now on the ice in give aways but yes very potent on the point. He wasn’t the great fighter all portrayed him as. I only saw him in one fight and I watch most of Montreal games.

Gionta doesn’t have to make up for his small stature…he is a clever and quite agressive player most games.

GB isn’t the saviour if you compare his ( Tampa’s) start this season……don’t forget GB inherited a really good team when he arrived. There are many really talented players on this team.

I still believe the team will manage to make the playoffs and then you just never know. Carey will have the final say on both conditionsas he did last year. Can he do it….I have faith he will.

I have to agree and disagree with you on some points, just as you have with mine.
I didn’t says the Habs pasted the Jets, but they were definitely more competitive. They played to a system, and stuck with it.
Gionta, who I admire a great deal for his heart and dedication, had the worst game since being with the team. I’ve never seen him lose it like that. I’m quite short too, so don’t think it has anything to do with small vs big. He usually plays very big.
I don’t think the Wiz is worth nearly what Columbia are paying him and yes, his defensive skills are lacking, but he carries grit, some weight and quite the shot, and I think this is now lacking.
JM has been employing the same system for a few years now, and I’m not saying his system doesn’t work, but rather that THIS team isn’t built for it. I realize they don’t have much choice, given the inexperience and lack of defensive size, so the forwards have to retreat, but you can’t afford to leave a gap between D and forwards to play both ways, but that’s what they tried last night, and Calgary intercepted everything.
PK isn’t overrated, just inexperienced. He needs some guidance, and I think he might be suffering from the sophomore blues.
He doesn’t want the same negative +/- as last year, but I don’t have a problem with it, because he’s always facing the opponents’ top lines.
He just needs to take the extra second, and focus on what he’s doing.
He seems to panic a bit. And he blitzes when he should’t and doesn’t when he should.
And if you looked behind the bench last year Muller was almost always the motivator. God? no….but a very good coach.
He brought the same principals as when he played.
Look, I’m not a G.M. and everyone has their opinion.
I’m just expressing mine.
I truly believe they have to focus on offence more. Isn’t that the best line of defence….puck possession?

I haven’t read all of the comments, but I’m fairly certain everyone agrees the Habs were awful. A lot of doom and gloom, fire the coach, no depth, etc, etc, etc.

I’m certainly not in that mindset, but I must say there are a couple of things that rankle me. Would I’d like to tackle is the depth argument that we hear on here often; that is, that we have none.

I can’t comment on that argument, because I have no bloody idea what our depth is. Cammy goes down, so you call up Palushaj and put him on the fourth line? Why? What in the world is he supposed to do with 7:31 icetime on a line with Andreas Engqvist? I’m not saying that you throw him up on the first line and expect him to fill Cammy’s boots, but at least set him up for a chance to succeed.

I’m not a Martin basher, but this just doesn’t make sense to me. If you want to call up a guy for the fourth line, call up a fourth liner! If you call up a scorer, put him with someone who can score! And lines have to be adjusted when a key player is out. A little inventiveness. Here’s a lineup I’d be curious to see to accommodate the injuries:

Cole-Pleks-Gionta (a guy who can realistically fill Cammy’s spot)

AK46 – Eller – Patches (think they’re both LW, but I think the adjustment can be made, or is that asking too much?)

I’m sure it’s not perfect, and I’m just a fan, I know. I’m fully willing to eat crow if this makes no sense. But to me, that spreads things out and accommodates the hole left by Cammy’s absence a lot more.

This is the way I see it and I may be 110% wrong
Kostitsyn has to be with Cammarelli and Pleks
Cole should be with Gomez and Gionta
Max Pac should be with Desharnais and Darch. say what you want about Max Pac and I know it’s only been 3 games, I think he would be better on the 3rd line. I also think where we have a few injury prone players you can’t have any consistancy with the lines and that’s not good on any team.
our defence is weaker, believe it or not Price is keeping the score down. it’s only early in the season and I don’t think we should panic yet, should it continue into December we should be concerned. lot of fans are blaming the coaching. coaches don’t score goals, But they should take blame for the lineup.

Boone. Here is a message for the higher ups at the HIO who continue to destroy this site from happier days when it was known as Habs inside/out.

Many Habs fans who come to this site like myself are out-of-towners who have no interest in subscribing to fees for articles in a local MTL paper that appear here as links. Either get rid of these fees or stop listing them on HIO. Thank you for your attention ($$$).

Hey apparently this is the team we have. I think JM would be doing everyone a disservice if he did not play his best players. Based on last night Gionta and Gomez should have sat. I am not talking about Gionta silly penalties. I am talking about his play. He and his buddy played abysmally. I fell sorry for Pac’s. Gomez has lost it. I just know we will see a repeat of last year. It is the same old predictable Gomez. The amount of ice time this guy gets is baffling.

I have looked up at the Egyptian pyramids, walked through Stonehenge and wondered about their mysteries. But these sites are no more mysterious than a team who does not bother to show up for the first game with their arch Canadian rivals, the Leafs and then falls completely flat in the opening night at the Bell Centre against a mediocre team. Apart from Eller, no one came to play. Go figure!

Anybody trying to judge any team based on a number of games that can be counted on one hand is pretty ridiculous. Have the Habs gotten off to a good start? Nope. Is it time to call 911? I’d wait just a bit.

last year Tampa had a great season, followed by a great playoff run.
all in the first year of Guy Boucher.
this is the 3rd year with JM and its the same trends over again.
i am not saying fire him or give up on the team.. not at all
i am saying its frustrating to watch the team make the same mistakes over and over and over again.
and JM try and do the same thing over and over and over agian
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The 2010-11 Stanley Cup was not won, but given

one thing that really scares me this season is there seems to be a huge lack of heart when trailing. we HAVNT seen this is past seasons, these teams have usuually not quit and in most games even when trailing you felt they might come back, that hasnt been the cases in our two losses and that really scares me, boys better get it right, play with some fire, and not quit or bring in a new coach ala mike keane!

Erik Cole was not brought in for his PP skills, he had all of 4 points on the PP last year. He was brought in the help the 5 on 5, and 3 games in, it does not seem to help much. He looks timid and confused out there…

Moen’s a hard worker, but should never be on the top 6, we have guys that can score 20 goals a season, but Moe gets the top 6 spot? I was thinking why not Andrei46? But last night on RDS they said Plekanec complained about playing with AK46, I never heard about that and would be interested in reading about it.

I’m starting to think the negative crew is right… cause this roster seems to be pointless, they fight with all their hearts for playoffs spot, but then are too worn out to compete.
Of course there are some mitigating circumstances, but all teams have to play trough adversity.

Could JM get fired this season, would it help even if we keep the same roster?

I can’t speak for you Shiram, but my expectations for this year were very high. I had the Habs fighting for the #1 seed. Now i’m seeing a team that will fight for the #8 seed. Its really hard not to be down on this team. I know it’s very early, but there are some troubling signs/trends that I’m seeing.

Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.

I usually shy away from such predictions, I’m not the most hockey knowledgeable guy around, I have not been watching hockey for all that long compared to some guys around here.
But I definately thought the team would be better than last year, maybe I was drinking the Kool-Aid afterall.

If Cole does not pick it up, if Budaj is truly one of the worst NHL goalie, if our special teams cannot remain in the top 10, well it’s gonna be a freaking long season.

It’s so annoying, the 2 guys we brought in are not looking good, I’ll give Budaj some time, the guy needs to play at least a few reg games before I throw him under the bridge, but still, he was awful against pre-season teams.
Betts looked like a good pickup, but that did not work.

hey cole hasnt looked bad, he hasnt been costing out team, or playing in the mooon like AK can at times. he giving effort, and his goals will come, but I wouldnt say hes not looking good, I think peoples expecations espcially in the french media, are really high on this guy, and people are trying to nit pick on evry little thing. give cole time to gel with the new team and city, this guy is a solid player, and even though he yet to score, he scored a couple in the preseason, and without too much PP either.

so what hes still an better option on the PP then darche od DD. pleks on the point is not working either, way too many defensive screw ups. COle might not have put big points , but you know what he still good in the offensive zone, still has a great shot, and still is strong on the puck. so i have more confidence in him on one of my PP then not!!

terrible effort last nite. very humdrum. credit to the flames for outplaying us. these types of games will happen ,its a long season.i have another thing to worry about this team and that is the kirk mueller effect. he was the one who the in game corrections/adjustments and that , based on 3 games is what is missing. my opinion is that jm is so married to “the system” and never wavers from it and that is going to lead to the downfall of the team on a game by game basis.is great when we have the lead, but, when the other team is dictating the play jm doesnt adjust. i fear we are going to regret letting kirk go.

i have been saying it for years- Martin has been a terrible coach everywhere he went. His management of star players- Spezza in Ottawa, Horton in Florida- has always been a disaster. Time for the Molsons to cut their losses with JM, ditch PG and come up with a made-for Montreal gm/coach team. Boucher would have been great; Muller was a possibility but this team does not treat its players or its coaches as business assets, i think this will be a long year.

if ak46 had a game like subban.. ak would be scratched for the next month.
also, you would think that after 3 years of JM the team would have a tad more cohesion.
also don’t understand gettng Cole, and then not using him..
maybe they want him to learn the habs system first and by 15 games he will be on the top 2 lines…
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The 2010-11 Stanley Cup was not won, but given

Scotty Bowman as President, Lemaire as GM, Larry Robinson as coach.
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“The point is that Fergie wasn’t, and didn’t have to be, a non stop brawler. His hard earned reputation preceded him, and he could keep the opposition in line without spending all night in the penalty box.” – Jean Beliveau

Bowman is content being a senior adviser to the Hawks, President of the team is asking a bit much from him. Lemaire is retired (and has never been a GM in his life), Robinson seems content being an assistant coach, I’m sure he has had HC offers but he’s likely turned them down.

The Boston Bruins have 1 win in 4 games.
Zedno Chara is worth is high salary with 0 points and ….
Perhaps they are still in party mode…

“We have some ups and downs right now but we also have new guys, new lines and we are also trying some things and we are evaluating our guys. It’s the beginning…” – Guy Boucher on 1 win in 4 games. Both goalies Garon and Roloson are struggling.
Mr. Boucher, isn’t that what training camp is for.

The New York Rangers haven’t won a game this season. This is a team most experts picked to make the play-offs.

“Right now, we’re making mistakes. Last year, we waited for the other team to make mistakes.” Captain H. Sedin on why the Canucks have only 1 win in 4 games. Highly paid goalie Roberto Luongo has a goals against avg. of 3.89.
Mr. Sedin, why doesn’t your team eliminate the mistakes. That will take care of everything.

The LA Kings made some notable player acquisitions and signings. But they have only 1 win in 3 games and Doughty and Richards have only 1 point each.

“It’s too much for one guy to shoulder. For us, we’re going to do it as a group. It’s about sharing that responsibility win or lose.” – Mike Cammalleri

anyone else think letting Boucher and Muller go were huge mistakes….coaching prospects should be just like other prospects..valued and protected…I realize that most think one or both will be back after they hone their craft but maybe they’ll figure out life is easier and more lucrative and warmer in other markets..also – PG needs to quit building a team for a Euro league…2 swiss D men – gimme a freakin break.

Over Boucher or Muller today? Without reservation. Tomorrow may be different but so far I don’t think this is a coaching thing. I’d like to see how the “team” performs with a leader who steps up under fire (like a few guys used to in the past on this team), with 20 guys actually all pulling in the same direction and with a few “scorers” actually going to the net. Haven’t seen much of that so far, have you?

come on u know this is Montreal… they are last years champs – we are the 24 time champions – been to the finals 34 times and we need to win – we shouldve won that game lastnight – The FLAMES had no busniess coming in to Montreal and making us look so sluppy when they have been as well.

What does it say on the door to Bob Gainey’s office???
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“The point is that Fergie wasn’t, and didn’t have to be, a non stop brawler. His hard earned reputation preceded him, and he could keep the opposition in line without spending all night in the penalty box.” – Jean Beliveau

Larry Robinson keep out.
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“The point is that Fergie wasn’t, and didn’t have to be, a non stop brawler. His hard earned reputation preceded him, and he could keep the opposition in line without spending all night in the penalty box.” – Jean Beliveau

From what I’ve seen on the ice the first few games (and preseason), it looks like it’s shaping to be another season of Habs mediocrity. We seem slow and outmanned. Gomez looks even worse than last year, if that’s even a possibility The bench sorely misses Captain Kirk. Another season of teeth-nashing to make the eighth and final playoff spot. Only to be eliminated in the first round. 18 years and still counting for Lord Stanley to come back home. Weber looked inefficient and lost last night. Emelin looks like he’s in SloMo replay. wake up dude, this ain’t the KHL!!!

Did you go to the same med school as Dr. Recchi?
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“The point is that Fergie wasn’t, and didn’t have to be, a non stop brawler. His hard earned reputation preceded him, and he could keep the opposition in line without spending all night in the penalty box.” – Jean Beliveau

By the way if I were GM I’d trade or waive Moen. Not because he’s a terrible grinder, he isn’t, but simply because the coach isn’t getting it through his head that he’s not a top 6. Sorry Travis but you have to go so that Jacques can start using Cole and Pacioretty

I’m not blaming Moen for being a stonehands grinder, I’m just sick and tired of seeing him out there for top 6 minutes. Pick any bulldogs prospect and use them instead. ANY of them. Avtsin, Trotter, Palushaj, ANYONE but Moen.

“The point is that Fergie wasn’t, and didn’t have to be, a non stop brawler. His hard earned reputation preceded him, and he could keep the opposition in line without spending all night in the penalty box.” – Jean Beliveau

Hardly worth getting your knickers in a knot. It’s early, they’ll improve. Of course, don’t let me stop you from tearing out your hair. I have damn little of it to start with so excuse me if I don’t join in.

Great transition from “don’t worry it’s only the pre-season” to “don’t worry it’s still early”.

And you didn’t even have to use “We’ve got lots of injuries”.

At what point do you anticipate transitioning to “just wait till next year”?

(I’m teasing of course – but it was clear in August that we had a weak team this year. I just don’t understand why that wasn’t obvious to everyone. I mean people were actually saying that we have three scoring lines this year when in reality we have none, plus a coach who seems ethically opposed to the whole idea of scoring lines.)

Clear to who? The perpetual naysayers who are ready to jump off a bridge if the team loses a couple games? The people who call this team weak, but then insist a change in the bench boss will make them Contenders? Those who pine for a fictitious 7’3″ enforcer who can humble Chara?

Robert, how much success can this team expect when basically CP has to play out worldly to win at all. Unlikley 44 times in a season which would be a consensus win requirement for post season?

Has the team been upgraded from the disappointment of April 2011? Has the blueline been degraded since then? Sure Markov will change PP and Dzone breakout but is his arrival going to change the 35 minutes per game that he is not on the ice?

Has the philosophy of playing not to lose reached the point of mirroring the Minnesota Wild rather than the puck posession teams promised by PG and JM?

Perpetual naysayers maybe or realists who lost their rose coloured glasses over the summer?

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…..My empire is crumbling, my international sponsors are deserting me, my authority is questioned, I am held in contempt wherever I go.

Personally, I had seasons tickets in the forum for the 75-79 run and attended games in the 60’s as well.

Sure, free agency and the universal draft have changed the “acquisition” aspect of the game but other organizations have flourished while the Canadiens have decidedly not!

To me its all a matter of “expectations” or accepted norms which have been seriously lowered for the Canadiens management and hockey operations department. Selling out every game for sure has some direct effect on managements’ outlook.

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…..My empire is crumbling, my international sponsors are deserting me, my authority is questioned, I am held in contempt wherever I go.

I’ll suggest that if we had won the Cup last season then started 1-2 as we have this season that this site would implode with rage. Habs fans may feel they’re the most entitled in the league partly due to our deep love for the team and the sport itself. Any loss is taken as the end of the world but a 1-2 start…well, them’s car burnin’ words!